Vision T9600 Simple Treadmill Review

TREADMILL DOCTOR NOTE :

Vision is doing better with the model upgrades but they also had such a huge price increase that it really dampens the enthsiasm for the lineup. They are quickly approaching the problem that SportsArt had- the unit was improved to the point that it was simply priced right out of the market.

MSRP:

$2,499.00

Walking Area

8.5

Power

7.5

Cushioning

8.3

Reliability

6.7

Noise Level

7.1

Quality

6.7

Value

6.3

Warranty

8

Overall Rating: 7.2

A decent machine but with so much competition it is hard to see how they can make a go of it at $2500. Vision should take a hard look at their costs, margins, etc. to see if they can get more compeitive..everyone else is doing it.

General Information

Vision is an import brand made by Johnson. They are known for making a high value treadmill. They were formerly owned by Trek Bicycles but were sold to management as part of a reorganization. They have recovered well from the recall 3 years ago but were absorbed into Johnson just a few months ago. We write year round and wrote this past summer that Vision is a foreclosure waiting to happen and that they should lock the doors and toss the keys to Johnson...apparently that is what has happened.

Quality / Philosophy

For the Vision line, Johnson appears to believe that if you put good enough components in it, you can expect a reasonable service life. Sounds good and it makes sense and works. Their love of ortho belts is not something we would endorse. Ortho belts add a bit of cushioning but the wear on the drive system is not a good trade off. A good pair of shoes for use only on the treadmill is a better option.

Outlook

Vision, who once helped shut down many US factories with their innovative manufacturing approach now, is the victim of their success. As they have moved up in price point, they essentially priced themselves out of the market just as Icon and Horizon improved quality drastically. You do get a better machine when compared with a Horizon unit but if you are going to spend $3000 on a treadmill wouldn't you really rather have a Landice?